by Zach Abrams
“The second female candidate, however, was a bit different. He was clearly much easier in his questioning and formed some very positive notes which didn't really have much justification. On that one, we had clear justification to call his judgement into question and perhaps restrict his seniority or even his continuance on the project. We could have given some confidential feedback to Marwick's but it wouldn't have gone any further than that.
“The final candidate however was the 'piece de resistance.' There can be no question he was influenced by her appearance and completely altered his approach to the interview. Rather than try and describe it, would you like to see the recording?”
“Yeah, that would be interesting.”
Charlie turned down the office lighting and switched on the television and DVD player. Alex could see the inside of a smallish office set out with a small wooden table and four lightly cushioned upright chairs. A young man was sitting with his back to the camera, reading through some files and jotting down notes. He heard a knock on the door and the man called out, “Come in.” The door opened and a very pretty young lady stepped in. Charlie had been accurate in his assessment. She must have been about five nine tall with a cute round face with sparkling blue eyes framed by flowing blonde curls that bounced off her shoulders as she walked. It looked like the start of a shampoo commercial. She was wearing a tight fitting white blouse and neat black skirt which rested half way down her thighs. The outline of her white frilly bra could be plainly seen through her blouse's thin fabric and her clothes did nothing to disguise her shapely form.
Thomson jumped to his feet and moved towards the door to greet her, his arm outstretched. “Hi, I'm Geoff Thomson, you must be Adele Simpson. Please come in and make yourself at home.” He grabbed her hand and closed his second hand round it in a friendly greeting, one not afforded the other candidates, Charlie advised him. He also held on to her hand a little bit too long for comfort as he guided her towards a chair and sat down in the adjacent chair and not across from her.
“I understand you'd be interested in coming to work with me in the new pilot financial investigations unit. Please tell me about yourself and your education and experience.”
Adele took a few minutes to answer the question providing a competent but not exceptional presentation. Alex watched as Thomson then asked a couple of his standard questions on technical issues, but while observing this, Charlie advised him that what he asked was far fewer and less rigorous questions than asked to the other candidates. Alex also noted the failings in his interview technique where he was often answering his own questions. He remarked on this and Charlie confirmed he had not done the same in the other interviews.
“Why are you interested in coming to work in this department?”
“It's really my dream job,” Adele answered. “I've always wanted to get into this type of work. I'm interested in accounts and in computers and I've been with the police now for three years. I'd be able to put all my interests together, and I'm sure I'd love it.”
“Do you think you're cut out for this type of work? You know, being mainly based in an office all day?” As he asked the question, Thomson stood up and paced around the room.
“Oh yes, it's my dream job. I'd give anything to get it.”
“Oh yes.” Thomson walked up behind her and stood close. He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and gently squeezed. “You know I could help you. I'm the supervisor of the department and I might be able to help you get this job.”
Adele gave a slight shudder at the contact but replied, “I'd like to be in a job like this and maybe try for some qualifications at the same time.”
“We thought of going in and breaking it up at that point but Adele seemed to be handling herself okay, she didn't appear distressed and knew we were there if she needed us so we held back a little.”
“I could help you. If you were in the job and working for me then I could help you with getting qualifications too. I've got influence with the Institute of Chartered Accountants.” As he spoke, he ran his hands from her shoulders down her arms and then across her chest, lightly touching and massaging her breasts in the process.
Adele lifted his hands free of her and held them in her own hands. As she did she replied, “Mr Thomson, I hardly know you. I do want the job, though,” and she looked appealingly at him.
“We'll just need to see what we can do then,” he replied huskily, displaying a beaming smile. He was clearly aroused from their exchange.
“We waited for his review and sure enough he recommended employing Adele. He 'justified' his choice on the basis she showed more enthusiasm than the other candidates and was more free to work the hours required than officers with the responsibility of children. A lot of other guff as well, but he said nothing which had any credence.
“We've spoken with Marwick's and told them he can't continue working with us and we've already taken him out of the job. When they heard the reason, they confirmed he has no future with them either. The only question is whether we should pursue him for sexual assault or just take him aside and scare the shit out of him. We've spoken about it with Adele and she's prepared to go the prosecution route, but she's not keen. We think we might take Thomson aside and explain a few things to him. Try a bluff and make him the offer not to pursue, providing he agrees to seek professional help and be listed on the sexual offenders register. That way he could retain his family life. He'd need to find another job but he'd be able to stay in his profession. He'd get the help he needs and we'd have the justification to keep a close eye on him. We think he might go for it and it'd be a win-win if he does.”
“It sounds good to me. Can I tell Sandra as she's the one who gave us the information to start the ball rolling?”
“I don't see a problem as long as she knows it has to be kept confidential.”
Chapter 15
Alex was jubilant as he returned to his office. The others had all returned and were looking through the inventory of what had been found in the safes. Alex explained they were still awaiting news on the contents of the discs. Although it could be available anytime, it was more likely to not come through until the next day. He took Sandra to one side and discreetly shared the news about Thomson.
The techies hadn't got any further with the registrations on the Passat or the Fiesta so Alex suggested getting Fitzpatrick back to study footage taken from cameras that may have captured the journey anywhere between the West End and South Side in the hope of getting a better image. It would be another difficult job for him, but far less onerous than the previous one, as they knew positions and times before and after and they could greatly narrow down the field of study.
Midway through the afternoon, to their dismay, they received a report from Birmingham police advising that Black had slipped their net. He must have somehow realised they were closing in on him and made a runner just in time. When they went to his hotel room, he wasn't there although he'd left various belongings behind. He hadn't checked out of his room yet but as he'd paid cash in advance the hotel wasn't too concerned. All the local police forces had been alerted, although their chances of finding him were slim as New Street station was only a stone's throw away from the Britannia and Black could have gone in any direction from there.
Alex suddenly felt very weary. It was already late afternoon and it had been a very heavy day. He suspected tomorrow could be even more intense so he advised the others he had some other business to attend to and was leaving early, with the rider to call him immediately if anything new was found.
Sandra followed him outside and caught up with him in the corridor, grabbing his arm. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, fine, just run a bit ragged and I want to recharge my batteries before the next onslaught.”
“I've been on duty since first thing, as I needed to be through in Fife early. I've already completed a full shift. How about I sign out too and we go back to your place?” She gave a wicked smile and squeezed his arm affectionately.
Alex scanned the corridor to ensure they couldn't be seen or heard. “I'd like that very much, if you're really sure.”
“It'll take me a few minutes to clear away everything I need to and then I'll be ready. I've left my car in the multi-storey in Elderslie Street. It's on the second floor, near the lift. Take my keys and wait for me. If it's okay with you, I'll swing past home first and pick up an overnight bag.” She pressed the key chain into his hand and disappeared back into the office. Alex walked towards the car park with a new spring in his step and he tried to remember what state he'd left his flat in this morning. Had he even made up the bed and then with relief he recollected it was okay as he hadn't used it the previous night because he'd fallen asleep on the sofa.
Less than an hour later they'd completed their journey out to Bishopbriggs and then back to Shawlands. Alex opened the door of his flat and they stepped in, but before he even had time to close the door, Sandra had wrapped her arms around him, practically smothering him with her embrace. Kicking the door shut, they staggered interlocked with each other until they collapsed on the bed urgently fumbling with each other's buttons to access bare skin to touch and caress.
Alex's shirt was undone and his belt was loose with his trousers unclipped and his fly down while Sandra's blouse was wide open and her bra undone when once again they were interrupted by a phone ringing, this time it was the flat's landline. Neither paid much heed while it rang six times followed by the outgoing message from the voicemail.
Their attention was however caught when the sharp buzz was followed by Helen's frantic yell, “Alex, what the hell are you playing at? What are you doing making arrangements for the kids without telling me? I really think it's a bit off sending Bill Forbes to pick up Andrew from school without letting me know first. I was sitting waiting for him, with his dinner all ready, and he didn't turn up. It was only when I phoned his wee friend Ahmed that I found out about it. He said someone had driven up and told Andrew he was taking you and him to the Clyde game tonight. For goodness sake, it's a school night. Is this some weird way of yours to teach Craig a lesson? If it is, you might have at least let me know first,” and the line went dead.
In a panic, Alex was across the room in two strides and phoned Helen back. “Tell me exactly what happened.” he instructed.
“Alex, what's this about? You're frightening me.”
“I'll tell you after, just stay calm and tell me exactly what you know and how you found out.”
“I told you already, in the phone message, Andrew didn't arrive home from school and I went to phone round his friends. I called Ahmed first because I knew they often walked home together.”
“You said Bill Forbes picked him up, how did you know?”
“I quizzed Ahmed about what he was saying and I asked him to tell me what had happened, word for word. See I've learned something from your job. He said a silver car stopped next to them and a man called over to Andrew by name. He said, 'Remember me? I'm Bill Forbes. I saw you on Saturday with your Dad at the restaurant. I'm a friend of your Dad's and we work together.' He said he'd got tickets for tonight's Clyde versus Alloa match at Broadwood. He said he was taking you and him to the game so you'd have a chance to see a real game of football, even if it was third division. That's what Ahmed told me he'd said. Are you now telling me you didn't set this up? Oh my God! What can we do?”
“Stay calm, leave it to me, I'll sort it out,” Alex said, feeling anything but calm himself.
He quickly reassembled his clothing, noticing that Sandra had already done the same. He grabbed his leather jacket on his way out of the bedroom.
“I guess this just isn't meant to happen,” he ventured as he ran through the hallway.
“I'm coming with you,” she called. She was only one step behind and clearly not taking 'no' for an answer.
Alex didn't have time or energy to argue. He picked up his car keys and mobile before pulling the door closed. They were down the stairs in seconds and lunged towards his car, racing out of the parking space with a screech of tyres and leaving behind a smell of burning rubber. “I'm sure I remember where Forbes lives. He has a villa in behind the Old Mearns Road on the way out to Mearnskirk.”
As Alex manoeuvred at speed along the narrow side streets, his mobile rang, the screen showed it was Phil. He nodded to Sandra and she reached across and pressed the receive button on the 'Parrot.'
“Hi, Boss, I was just about to call it a night when Fitzpatrick gave us a result on the cars. I'm afraid it wasn't much use though, but something else to write off. The Fiesta's driver was a nurse and has a good alibi and you won't believe who had the Passat.”
“I think I just might, Phil. It wouldn't be our very own ACC William Forbes would it? The owner of a silver Passat?”
“How on earth did you know that? Anyway that cancels out one line of enquiry.”
“On the contrary, I'd bet a pound to a penny you might also find a few nice photos of him and David Kerr when you finally get into the storage disks.”
“You can't be serious?”
“I'm sorry to say I am. What's more he's abducted my son. I need to find him and find him fast. I want every unit and patrol mobilised. I want him apprehended now. Find out everything you can about what he has, houses cars, the like, anything that might help me trace him. I'm heading for his home right now.”
“How can I put out an arrest warrant for an ACC?”
“I don't care how, just do it!” Alex bellowed. He thought for a second and then continued, “Say I've instructed it and point any flack in my direction. Maybe try calling Charlie Hunter, he owes me a favour. But whatever happens, just do it and do it quick!”
Alex returned his full attention to his driving, racing up Langside Road and left onto Muirend Road. There was a long tailback of traffic at the lights on the T- junction with Clarkston Road. Alex switched on his hazard lights and, to a cacophony of horns, drove up the wrong side of the road forcing a couple of cars onto the pavement. Seeing the steady flow of traffic on Clarkston Road, he avoided the junction, instead using a rat-run he knew by turning sharply right into the residential area, first down Windlaw Gardens then up through the Ormondes before forcing his way back out, turning right onto Clarkston Road from just opposite the La Brava restaurant where he had been only a few days before. Advancing along the busy main road, Alex knew to expect another tailback at the Clarkston Toll roundabout and turned off for a second rat-run at the Stamperland shops turning left then right and following parallel to the main road, ignoring the 'twenties plenty' speed limit and emerging at the other side of the roundabout. Alex followed another back road to emerge onto the Old Mearns Road and progressed southbound along the trunk road. After a mile or two, he was just preparing to turn off towards the up market housing estate where he remembered Forbes lived when he saw the silver Passat emerge with Forbes driving.
Alex floored the pedal even harder causing a jab of pain to spring through his leg from the constant pressure and tension. There were two other cars between Alex and the Passat, and despite Alex's lights flashing and horn sounding, they would not move across.
The phone rang, Phil calling again.
Again Sandra pressed the accept button and Phil confirmed, “You were right, Boss. We've got into some of the photos and there are three different sets of David Kerr with different men and ACC Forbes is definitely one of them. I've called Superintendent Hunter as you suggested and he said he'd arrange the warrant.”
“Good, now I need some backup as quickly as possible. I'm driving south on the Old Mearns Road and Forbes is a few cars ahead of me. I need support and I need it now.
“I'll get right on to it, Boss.”
One of the cars turned into a side street and there was now only one car between Alex and Forbes, and this one was indicating right to turn onto the Eaglesham Road. There were no vehicles in front of Forbes now and he sped forward and turned left onto the open countryside of the Humbie Road with Alex in rapid pursuit. There w
as only a glimmer of light from the sky on this very cloudy evening, and with little traffic to obstruct them, they flew down the narrow winding road like half-blind, rally car drivers, side spinning at corners. Alex's confidence grew when he caught sight of a slow moving tractor in the distance coming towards them and taking up a large part of the road. He knew Forbes would have to slow down. However, Forbes must have spotted it too because he turned off onto a farm track and headed up towards the hills. Alex switched his Santa Fe to constant four-wheel drive and with the extra traction was quickly able to gain ground, spraying up a wall of mud and earth behind him as the vehicle accelerated over the countryside terrain. Forbes struggled to keep control of his vehicle travelling at speed through the dark muddy track with open fields to either side. The Santa Fe was almost touching the rear bumper when Forbes skidded on a corner, slid to the side and the offside wheel hit a tree stump and fractured its axle. Alex skidded to a halt beside it and he was out of the car in a second, but still not quickly enough.
Forbes was out the car before him and dragged something out of the back seat to stand beside him.
It was a few seconds before Alex realised it was Andrew standing next to Forbes. He could see that his wrists had been handcuffed behind his back, a scarf was tied round his head covering his eyes and a handkerchief was stuffed in his mouth as a makeshift gag, making his restricted breathing, come in loud snorts. He could hardly stand as his whole body was shivering so much. The cold night air might well have chilled the boy, but that was not the cause. Even in the limited light provided by the watery moon, supplemented by sideways illumination from the vehicles' headlights, Alex could see Andrew's pale complexion, terror ravaged face and tear-stained cheeks and knew he was shivering from fear. Forbes was standing behind him, almost using him as a shield with one hand gripping his shoulder to prevent him from bolting.